Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Between Creativity Style And Music Career In University Music Students, David A. Zmudka

Masters Theses

This study investigated the relationship between creativity style and choice of musical career among university students. Data was collected from 74 students enrolled in one of four majors in music; music education, music therapy, instrumental performance and jazz performance, as assessed by View: An Assessment of problem solving style, which included 34 items defining problem-solving style across three dimensions including Orientation to Change (OC), Manner of Processing (MP), and Ways of Deciding (WD) scales. Subjects also provided demographic information concerning their declared major, preferred musical career, and level of education. Significant differences were found between the four groups on …

Evaluating Increasing And Decreasing Prompt Hierarchies With Developmentally Disabled Adults, Sophie Rubin

Masters Theses

Individuals with developmental disabilities were taught conditional discriminations in the form of an auditory visual matching to sample task using two teaching strategies: the increasing prompt hierarchy and the decreasing prompt hierarchy. A multielement design was used to compare these prompt hierarchies in terms of accuracy, rate of acquisition, number of errors, number of edible reinforcers, and number of praise statements delivered. The results indicate that the increasing prompt hierarchy consistently resulted in an increased number of steps, errors, edibles, and praise statements compared to the decreasing prompt hierarchy. However, differing results were obtained on the accuracy measure across participants. …

A Market Analysis Of Consumer Behavior For Companies In A Self-Insurance Group, Bismarck J. Manes

Masters Theses

This study examined variables that influenced the purchase of costly safety equipment by small business owners. Participants were 21 members of a self-insurance group (SIG) comprised of auto recyclers. Eight sets of variables were examined: (a) marketing tools (video, graphic safety data, and price discount), (b) business demographics, (c) worker’s compensation history, (d) personal history, (e) available technology, (f) safety management practices, (g) safety products purchased in the past, and (h) interest in safety services provided by the SIG. Purchasers (N=7) and nonpurchasers (N=14) were divided into groups, and independent t-tests were calculated for each variable. Only one of 45 …

Intrapersonal Communication And Post-Disclosure Dialectics: An Examination Of The Dialectical Tensions Expelienced Following Self-Disclosure, Amanda Leanne Carver

Masters Theses

This paper studies the time period directly following a self-disclosure act. The narrative paradigm theory was utilized in the study of 62 narratives to reveal themes in participants' post-disclosure intrapersonal communication experiences. The narratives revealed four prevalent themes, judgment, fear, relational growth and relief. These themes were then used to validate the existence of post-disclosure dialectics. Postdisclosure dialectics refers to the intrapersonal tensions participants experiences in the post -disclosure time period.

How Has Multichoice Africa Affected The Way People View Television In African Countries?, Jesse Geston

Masters Theses

South Africa is the only country in Africa that has a formal system of developing, patenting and then marking its creative ideas to the rest of Africa. By understanding the history of South African media and learning about Multichoice Africa, it is clear that South Africa and Multichoice Africa have an impact on the way people from other African countries view television.

Information and communication technology in South Africa is continuing to develop and foreign countries are beginning to express more interest in investing in South Africa. Today South Africa dominates the digital satellite media in Africa through Multichoice Africa. …

Cinematic Scripture: The Structure And Usage Of The Lord Of The Rings As Equipment For Living, Brent Yergensen

Masters Theses

This project argues that film has the capacity to function as cinematic scripture for Christian audiences. Cinematic scripture means that films are authoritative for audiences the same way that written scripture is. In The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, this new form of scripture works as equipment for living by encouraging Christian audiences to go to war against evil through the structure of the film's biblical themes of bifurcation, redemption, and millennialism. This culmination of the rhetorical vision of war comes from three fantasy themes that emerge when Christian Internet writers describe how they use the films: repentance, strength, …

African American Male Faculty And Student Affairs Professionals At Eastern Illinois University: Motivations To Work In The Academy, Jahquan Clayton Hawkins

Masters Theses

The purpose of the current study was to identify factors that both motivate and deter African American male faculty and administrative staff members of Eastern Illinois University to be both recruited and retained at the institution. Subsequently, the attrition and retention of these individuals was the focal point of the research. A naturalistic, qualitative research designed was used during the current study. Specifically, a selected sample of African American male faculty and staff members from the institution under study were interviewed, soliciting responses that addressed issues such as the university's perception of the participants, the participants' views on the campus …

Male Greek Fraternity Members And Their Self-Perceptions On Muscularity, Kevin Malburg

Masters Theses

The quantitative study examined the body image issues of fraternity men at a midsize Midwestern university and their level of concerned with the muscular physique of their bodies. The participants were all undergraduate fraternity men between the ages of 18 and 25. The sample population (N=256) was surveyed using the Drive for Muscularity scale (McCreary & Sasse, 2000) to answer the following research questions: 1) Do fraternity members desire a more muscular physique than the one they already have? 2) What percentage of fraternity members use supplements to enhance their body image? 3) Do fraternity members perceive the opposite sex …

Components Of Academic Motivation: A Multidimensional Overview Of Millennial Female Students At Eastern Illinois University, Karen Huseman

Masters Theses

The purpose of the present study was to examine the components of academic motivation among millennial female college students. More specifically, the purpose was to assess multiple factors that contribute to academic motivation among African American and European American millennial college women. The participants for the present study were selected from the female population at a mid-sized state-supported institution located in the Midwest.

Results from the study include that both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards helped to jump-start academic motivation. The role of family support was highly valued in the women's desire to achieve and personal self-confidence and support from others …

Student Perceptions Of Intrusive And Non-Intrusive Advising Approaches, Josephine Robinson

Masters Theses

The primary purpose of the present study was to assess students' perceptions of intrusive advisement approaches used by Gateway Program staff at Eastern Illinois University in comparison to non-intrusive advisement approaches utilized by faculty advisors in academic departments. To date, no research has been conducted in this area at this institution. A secondary purpose of the present study was to ascertain the perceptions of students regarding their student/advisor relationships and the knowledge levels of advisors regarding the university and degree requirements. A third purpose for the present study was to assess students' perceptions of the effects academic advisement had on …

Role Modeling Attitudes And Physical Activity Behavior Of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Professionals, Emily Dufrene

Masters Theses

Role models are individuals whose behavior, example or success can be observed and learned from. Health professionals are responsible for the motivation and production of goal directed behavior (Wilson & Petruska, 1984). Modeling behaviors that encourage physical performance, fitness, health, and quality of life should be the foundation for all individuals certified by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM Credentialed Professionals, 2005) as exercise specialists, fitness instructors, or program directors. Physicians, exercise physiologists and nurses working in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programs are expected to model healthy behaviors for their own health benefit and to encourage their patients.

Student Evaluations Of Teaching: The Role Of Empathy And Instructions To Students, Shana L. Cunningham

Masters Theses

The current study examined the effects of instructions given to college students before evaluating their professors. The results of a previous study by Addison and Tabb (2004) indicated that an effect could be produced when student participants were given explicit instructions for evaluating videotaped student lectures. The present study was designed to examine these effects in a situation more generalizeable to actual student evaluations of teaching. Specifically, this study investigated student evaluations of a guest lecturer in a classroom environment. Results indicated significant differences among the instructional groups on specific rating scale items. The current study also yielded a significant …

The Changing Landscape Of Teaching And Teachers' Stress: A Revisit And Update, Mike Devillez

Masters Theses

During the late 70s and into the 80s, there was a considerable amount of research devoted to the study of stress and teaching. During that time, it was well established that teaching can be a stressful profession. Since then, studies that examine stress and burnout in the profession of teaching have become more infrequent, although teaching has undergone rapid change. For example, new educational legislation, No Child Left Behind that has recently been passed directly impacts teachers and their approaches toward teaching. This study seeks to understand the current educational environment and the possible contribution to teacher stress. Results of …

The Individualized Education Plan: Involvement And Satisfaction Of The Regular Education Teacher, Alison Dirksmeyer

Masters Theses

A total of 376 general education teachers in grades kindergarten through high school completed a questionnaire about their involvement and satisfaction with the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process. The results from the current study suggest that many regular education teachers are not actively involved or satisfied with the IEP process. For example, less than half of the teachers surveyed indicated that they were completely or actively involved in determining IEP goals and less than one-fifth reported that they felt a major responsibility for helping students in their classroom achieve IEP goals. Many areas of dissatisfaction were also noted in teachers' …

Oral Reading Fluency, Fluency Training, And Reading Comprehension In Sixth Graders, Lindsay B. Eck

Masters Theses

This study examined the relationships among a measure of oral reading fluency and two measures of reading comprehension in sixth grade students at two urban schools in the Midwest. In one of the schools, fluency training was added to the usual curriculum. Participants, all sixth grade students in the two schools, were administered the DIBELS Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) indicator and two district-assigned reading comprehension measures during the third and fourth quarters of the school year. Results indicated that ORF scores were significantly correlated with comprehension scores, although to a lesser degree than typical for earlier grades. Fluency training had …

A Comparison Of Two Phonological Awareness Interventions Between Samples Of Head Start Children, Kevin D. Farrell

Masters Theses

Phonological processing skills are an accurate predictor of pre-readers' reading performance years later. Historically, children have not been required to demonstrate phonological processing skills until kindergarten. Due to the importance of these early reading skills, it is critical that deficits within this area are remediated utilizing research based interventions. Recent research has demonstrated that preschool age children could be taught some early reading skills through direct instruction techniques known as Picture Sorts and Sound Boxes. However, little research exists on the efficacy of such methods with a Head Start population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects …

Explicit Timing As An Intervention For Children With Adhd, Monica Fischer Girten

Masters Theses

Explicit timing is a procedure that alerts students of their time limits when completing academic tasks. Research on this procedure first emerged in the mid 1970's, and has focused on the effectiveness of this technique for increasing academic response rate. Empirical studies have demonstrated that the explicit timing procedure can increase response rate for a variety of academic skills including mathematics performance, writing composition and reading. However, few studies have focused on the effectiveness of this procedure on special populations, such as students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The purpose of the current study was to determine whether explicit …

Using Social Stories To Correct Social Skills Deficits In A Student With A Learning Disability, April Larson-Evangelista

Masters Theses

Social stories have been deemed an effective intervention for people with autism (e.g., Richard, 2000). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the use of social stories with a participant not diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. The participant was an 8 year-old second-grade girl of average intelligence who was diagnosed with a learning disability in mathematics. Upon consulting with her classroom teacher, two social skills were identified as the target behaviors to be addressed in the present study. The first prominent behavioral concern was violation of others' personal space or standing too close to others. The second …

The Correlation Between Date Violence And Disordered Eating In College Aged Women, Kenzia N. Hartman

Masters Theses

Objective: Research has shown a correlation between date violence and disordered eating behaviors in adolescent females. Those who have experienced verbal, physical, or sexual date violence report an increased incidence in the use of unhealthy weight control practices such as fasting,g diet pills, laxatives, vomiting, and binge eating. In addition to unhealthy eating practices, lowered body image has also been associated with date violence. This study was designed to determine if there is a correlation between date violence, disordered eating behaviors, and lowered body image in college age women. Method: Questionnaire data were gathered from 150 college-aged female students at …

Analysis Of Suicidal Ideations And Attempts Among University Freshmen, Emily A. Johnston

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore freshmen Midwestern university students' (a) suicidal ideations and attempts, (b) help-seeking resources, and (c) relationships between suicide ideations/attempts and academic focus. Surveys were collected from 126 male and female university freshmen (n = 43 male; n = 83 female). A 15-question survey was designed to explore suicide attempts, ideations, academic majors, and help-seeking resources utilized by freshmen university students. The participants were a convenience sample from 8 freshmen introductory orientation classes. Results indicate: (a) a relationship between suicide ideations/attempts and academic college; (b) freshmen females rely on friends as a help-seeking resource; …

Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs In Illinois Schools, Mary Ann Seaton

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to complete an in depth exploration of programs designed to teach children the skills necessary to keep them safe from sexual abuse. Educational programs have been utilized to aid in the prevention and acknowledgement of childhood sexual abuse for many years. While sexual abuse programs for children are used across the United States, little contemporary research exists related to the use of these programs.

Child sexual abuse prevention programs in central Illinois schools are provided through the public schools by various non-profit community organizations. The sample of this study consisted of five organizations, each …

Psi Hitting And Missing: The Effects Of Belief, Order Of Run, And Previous Experience, Jaymes Parker

Masters Theses

The current study examined several variables to determine their effects on telepathy performance. Part I used groups of participants who attempted to telepathically send the location oftargets to a receiver selected randomly from the group. Fifteen sessions were conducted during which 9 receivers each completed 16 trials. It was hypothesized that an order effect would be present with increased missing during the first and last run of each session. It was also hypothesized that belief in mental telepathy would influence telepathy scores. Results indicated significant differences when comparing positions 1 and 9 with positions 2-8. Scores, while not significant, tended …

The Relationship Between Maximizing, Perfectionism, And Relationship Satisfaction, Tara Lynn Riddle

Masters Theses

The relationship between maximization and perfectionism to relationship choices was explored. Ninety-seven undergraduate introductory psychology students were administered the Maximization Scale (Schwartz, et al., 2002), Hendrick Relationship Assessment Scale (Hendrick, 1991), Revised Almost Perfect Scale (Slaney, et al., 2001) and a brief demographic questionnaire. Results indicated that there is no significant relationship between maximization and relationship satisfaction, romantic relationship durations, or initiating relationship termination. In addition, perfectionism was not found to be related to choices in dating relationships. However, analyses did replicate prior research indicating a significant positive relationship between maximization and perfectionism (Schwartz, et al., 2002).

A Correlation Study Between Employee Perception And Customer Satisfaction In An Automotive Manufacturing Corporation, Jason Travis Felton

Masters Theses

Organizations may be able to utilize internal measures of customer and employee satisfaction in order to get a head start on potential customer satisfaction issues. Correlation analysis is employed to determine significance between measures of employee perception and the pulse of customer satisfaction. Employee perceptions and external customer satisfaction metrics are quantified across 3 manufacturing sites to determine relationships between key indicators. Validated survey questions are compiled statistically in composite groups in order to evaluate employee perceptions of customer satisfaction efforts and employee satisfaction efforts. Results are evaluated using Pearson product moment "r". Results indicate a positive correlation exists between …

Low Back Pain In Police Officers, Jennifer Gwyn Arts

Masters Theses

Low back pain (LBP) is something that police officers deal with on a daily basis. The purpose of this research was to explore whether police officers have a higher incidence of LBP than the general population and to explore what factors officers believe contribute to the LBP they experience. Surveys were made available to all police departments in Kent County and all sworn officers were asked to participate. The difference between LBP experienced by police officers (60.2%) and that experienced by the general population (60-90%) was not found to be significant. The top two answers given by officers as to …

Empowering Adolescents In A Morally Ambiguous World: An Exploration Of Middle School Character Education Programs, Jill R. Bowers

Masters Theses

While instilling values in adolescents is often seen as the parent/guardian's primary respoponsibility, varying circumstances arise in the lives of individuals and families which cave members of society to rise to the challenges and social responsibilities of educating he young. Teaching adolescents to cope with the rising challenges associated with socialization and be individuals of good character who become productive citizens as adults is a social responsibility.

The primary purpose of this study is to explore the impact of character education programs on early adolescents in middle schools and school personnel. Through exploration of 2 middle schools who implemented 2 …

A Comparative Study Of The Perceptions And Roles Of Male And Female Sweethearts Of Greek Letter Organizations, Jenesha Lynn Penn

Masters Theses

This present study was designed to explore the phenomenon of Sweethearts in contemporary Greek Letter Organizations. Due to the paucity of scholarly literature on the topic of Sweethearts, the present study may be the first to capture the stories of these men and women and illustrate their experiences for those inside and outside Greek organizations.

Tracing Virag: Jewish Migration And The Construction Of James Joyce's Ulysses, Barry A. Hudek

Masters Theses

My thesis explores the role of Rudolph Virag, the father of Leopold Bloom, in James Joyce's Ulysses. I compare the migration of Rudolph Virag throughout Europe within that novel to the historical Jewish experience in the same locations Joyce places Virag. Although I detect parallels between Virag's movements and actual patterns of nineteenth-century Jewish migration, I argue that Joyce makes subtle changes in timing to create a literary connection between the exodus of Rudolph Virag and Leopold Bloom, and Ireland's political and cultural struggle as an English colony.

Virag's history is then used to further explore Joyce's literary techniques in …

Differences In Older Adults' Motivation To Exercise Between Healthy And Cardiac Rehabilitation Populations, Andrew French

Masters Theses

Many positive things come along with aging. The decrease in motivation to exercise is not one of them. It has been shown that as people age their desire to exercise goes down. A major concern with this is that inactivity can lead to serious health problems. The most important of these are cardiac related due to the high possibility of death that accompanies them. Therefore, it is critical to find out what motivates older adults to engage in physical activity in order to decrease the likeliness of cardiac events, and also increase the possibility of secondary prevention by increasing the …

Assessing Personality Traits Of Athletic Trainers At Accredited Universities Associated With The Ohio Valley Conference, Dana Patrick Jergens

Masters Theses

The discipline of athletic training is one which deals with the prevention and care of athletic injuries. Athletic training is a competitive field that is oriented towards athletes and sports medicine caregivers. Certain types of personalities mold athletic trainers and the types of lifestyles necessary to do this line of work. To better determine what types of prospective athletic trainers enter this field, it is interesting to find out if they fit certain personality characteristics. The purpose of this study was to examine the personality traits of athletic trainers from accredited universities affiliated with the Ohio Valley Conference. A total …